Nonsiphoning float valve



July 7, 1936. v, E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT NONS IPHONING FLOAT VALVE Filed Oct. 8.39 35 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7/. (S. Sc/zmzeiebwvfi,

m ATTORNEYS.

y 1936- v. E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT 2,046,792

NONSIPHONING FLOAT VALVE Filed Oct. 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \1 w my INVENTOR. 5 Scfmzzedafiwa/zi,

' ATTORNEYS.

July 7, 1936. v. E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT ,7

NONSIPHONING FLOAT VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1935 INVENTOR. 6 fichzzz'c deheaz TTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1936 I UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE 18 Claim.

This invention relates to plumbing and has special reference to a non-siphoning float valve for toilet tanks.

In the ordinary type of toilet tank float valves the valve usually discharges under the water in the tank at least part of the time during which the tank is in operation. 11, when the valve is open, a valve in the supply line and located at a lower elevation is also opened the upper tank will discharge by siphoning into the supply system thus contaminating the supply water and frequently introducing disease germs into such supply water. Then, if water from the supply line be used for drinking purposes, disease is apt to result.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a ball float valve for toilet tanks which is so arranged that siphoning through the valve of the contents of the tank cannot occur.

In toilet tanks it is highly desirable that the operation should be as quiet as possible. An ordinary ball-cock might be arranged to deliver water to the tank above the high water level of the tankbut this is objectionable not only because such delivery is very noisy but also because, for the tank to hold the proper quantity of water and yethave space above the water for the valve, the tank height would necessarily have to be increased and this is objectionable from the practical conditions of utilizing extra space and of inartistic appearance.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of such a valve whereby the valve will discharge above the high water level of the tank in a substantially noiseless manner.

A third'important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of such a valve having so little height'inv proportion to its capacv ity that it may be installed in a tank of the usual height and yet lie wholly-above the high water line at all times.

It is common in tanks for this purpose to provide an overflow pipe having unvalved communi cation with thetoilet bowl so that excess water may drain off without overflowing the tank. It is also common to arrange a branch from the float valve to deliver water to'this overflow pipe so that, after completion of the flushing operation, a certain amount of water will be delivered to the bowl.

A fourth important object of the invention is to so arrange the valve and branch pipe that no siphoning can occur through this branch pipe.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views. and:

Figure 1 is a section through a tank showing the improved valve installed therein with the valve partly open.

Figure 2 is an enlarged axial section through the valve in the partly open position shown in Figure 1. a

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the valve closed. a

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section on the center line of Figure 1 and showing the branch pipe connection.

Figure 5 is an axial section through the valve proper and its seating portion removed from the other parts.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the valve with the supply pipe shown in section.

- Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a modification of a certain flow reversing tube used herein.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a slight modification thereof.

Figure 10 is a detail section on the line iii-l0 of Figure 9.

In the embodiment of the invention as here shown there is disclosed in Fig. 1 an ordinary tank III as used for this purpose and from the bottom of this tank extends a flush pipe H leading to the bowl in the usual manner. The upper end of this pipe is provided with an extension I! located within the tank at the bottom thereof, this extension being open at its upper end to form a seat for the usual rubber ball l3 forming the flushing valve. This valve i3 is provided with a stem i4 adapted to connect the valve to trip means of the usual character. Leading from the extension I2 below the valve I3 is an overflow pipe I! which leads up to the high water level shown by the broken line l8. Also the tank is provided with the usual supply pipe I! which usually does not extend up above the high water level l6. These parts are all of old and well known types and are here shown for the'purpose of rendering the construction and operation of the invention entirely clear.

The invention itself resides in the valve at the top of the supply pipe l1 and this valve includes an inner body member of general tubular form. The lower end of this inner body member is formed as a polygonal nut I! at the upper end of which is athreaded and reduced portion l9 and above this again is a reduced cylindrical tubular portion 29. A shoulder 2| is formed at the junction of the parts I. and I! for purposes presently to be explained. These parts l3, l3, and 20 form an outflow terminal for the supply pipe H. The main or outer body portion has a bottom 22 screwed onto the portion i3 and extending upwardly and outwardly from the periphery of this bottom is a wall 23. Extending inwardly from this wall is a flange 24 so that a chamber 25 is provided around the member 29. A cylindrical flange 25 extends upwardly from the flange 24. The flange 24 forms a circular guide for a flow reversing tube 21 which surrounds the upper end of the part 20 and projects downwardly into the chamber 25. This tube 21 is provided internally with a series of longitudinally extending grooves 23. Screwed on the upper end of the tube 21 is a cap 29 and between the top of the cap 29 and the upper face of the tube 21 is an elastic valve disk 30 which, when the valve is closed, seats on top of the tube 2|! to close the upper end thereof as in Fig. 3. The skirt portion of the cap 29 fits in the flange 25 and is provided on its lower end with packing 3| to prevent leakage of water from the chamber 25 between the cap skirt and flange 25. An overflow cup has a bottom 32 centrally apertured to flt on the part l9 and be clamped between the shoulder 2| and the bottom 22. The

peripheral wall 33 of this overflow cup extends up around the wall 23 in spaced relation thereto and communication between the chamber 25 and the overflow cup is provided by means of the ports or openings 34 in the wall 23. Extending outwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the wall 23 is a flow reversing flange 35 having an externally threaded depending skirt 36 at its lower end, the flange 35 and skirt 36 being spaced from the cup as shown. Screwed on the skirt 36 is an inverted conical flow directing ring 31 provided with internal grooves 33 separated by ribs 39 which lie close to the cup wall 33. At one point in its circumference the flange 35 is provided with a boss 40 having a flow passage 4| having a branch 4| opening into the overflow cup, or into the space above grooves 38, and to this passage is connected a refill discharge tube 42 having its free end extending down into the overflow tube well below the high water line. In the bottom 32 of the overflow cup are drain ports 34'.

Formed on top of the cap 29 is a loop or eye 43 through which passes a lever 44 having one end pivoted to a bracket 45 extending up from the flange 35. Extending from the flange 35 opposite the bracket 45 is a bracket 46 and a lever 41 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the outer end of the bracket 46. The lever 41 has one end connected to the lever 44 by a link 48 and the remaining end of this lever 41 is provided with an upturned eye 49 through which extends a rod 50 carrying at its free end the usual copper float 5|.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 the inner and outer body members previously described are formed integrally as a single member indicated in general at 52. The lower part of the outer body member has its outer surface 53 in the form the frustum of a cone. Otherwise the inner and outer body members are identical with those parts previously described and have been correspondingly indicated by reference numerals. The overflow cup of the previous form is, of course, modified since its bottom can no longer be gripped between the shoulder 2| and the bottom of the outer body member. In this modified form of the overflow cup the cup is provided with a bottom 54 having a central circular opening the periphery of which is indicated at 55. Extending outwardly from this opening is a series of slots 58. From the periphery of the bottom 54 rises a frusto-conical wall 51 terminating at its upper end in a cylindrical wall 53. These parts are so proportioned that, when the bottom 54 is fitted on the frusto-conical surface 53, the lower wall 51 fits in the frusto-conical member 31 while the upper wall 55 is spaced from the flange 35. The overflow cup is held immovably between the body member and the member 33. This form of the invention is especially adopted for use in connection with low tanks wherein economy of vertical dimensions is essential.

Normally the valve is closed as in Fig. 2 but when the ball valve I3 is raised by the usual trip mechanism (not shown) the water flows out of the tank and the float 5| falls. The falling of this float lifts the valve proper, composed of the elements 21, 29, and 33, through the action of the lever arrangement. The upper end of the tube 20 will thus be opened and water will flow out by the part 20 into the cap 29 and then down through the grooves 28 into the chamber 25. This chamber, being relatively large will cause the flow of water to decrease in speed so that this chamber forms a speed reducing chamber. From the chamber 25 the water will flow through the lateral ports 34 into the overflow cup, flll this cup and overflow its edges to pass downthrough the grooves 35. By reason of the downwardly converging arrangement of these grooves the water both from the grooves and from the drain ports 34' is directed against the upper part of the supply pipe i1 and will flow quietly down the outside of the pipe to join the body of water in the tank without splashing or noise. Obviously, since the lower ends of the grooves 35 are always above the high water line it will be im possible for any siphoning action to draw water from the tank through these grooves.

In Figure 8 it will be seen that there is shown a tube 21 having an internal spiral groove 23. This tube may be used in place of the straight grooved tube 21.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a valve of the kind described. a supply pipe outflow terminal, a flow reversing device on the upper end of said terminal, a flow checking chamber into which the reversing device d1scharges, an overflow cup into which the chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to direct the overflow from said cup toward the axis of the terminal.

2.Inavalveofthekinddescribed,asupply pipe outflow terminal. a flow reversing device on the upper end or said terminal, a flow checking chamber into which the reversing device discharges, an overflow cup into which the chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingly downward.

3. In a valve 0! the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, a flow reversing device on the upper end of said terminal, a flow checking chamber into which the reversing device discharges, an overflow cup into which the chamber discharges, and a flow directing ring open at its lower end to theatmosphere and having an inverted frusto-conical interior closely surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the cup in downwardly converging streams.

4. In a valve 01 the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, a flow reversing device on the upper end oi said terminal, said flow reversing device being movable vertically between a lower position closing the upper end oi said terminal and an upper position opening the upper end of said terminal, a flow checking chamber overflow from said cup toward the axis of the terminal.

5. In a valve oi the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, a flow reversing device on the upper end of said terminal, said flow reversing device being movable vertically between a lower position closing the upper end of said terminal and an upper position opening the upper end of said terminal, a flow checking chamber into which the reversing device discharges, an overflow cup into which the chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingiy downward.

6. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, a flow reversing device on the upper end of said terminal, said flow reversing device being movable vertically between a lower position closing the upper end of said terminal and an upper position opening the upper end of said terminal, a flow checking chamber into which the reversing device discharges, an overflow cup into which the chamber discharges, and a flow directing ring open at its lower end to the atmosphere and having an inverted frusto-conical interior closely surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the cup in downwardly converging streams.

7. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to direct the overflow from said cup toward the axis 01 the terminal.

8. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in 5 said cap closing the upper end olthe terminal upon the tubular member being moveddownwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges. and means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingly downward,

9. In a valve of the kind described, a supply 1 pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end oi the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper. end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in 20 said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges. and a flow directing ring open at its lower end to the atmosphere and having an inverted irusto-conical interior clouly surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the 30 cup in downwardly converging streams.

10. In a valve 01' the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fitted on the upper 35 end 01' the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to direct the overflow from said cup toward the axis of the terminal, said chamber surrounding said terminal and the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral ports communicating with the cup.

11. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, and means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup 60 into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingiy downward, said chamber surrounding said terminal and the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral P ports communicating with the cup.

12. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fitted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding 70 the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup 75 into which said chamber discharges, and a flow directing ring open at its lower end to the atmosphere and having an inverted i'rusto-conical interior closely surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the cup in downwardly converging streams, said chamber surrounding said terminal and the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral ports communicating with the cup.

13. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fitted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, means open to the atmosphere to direct the overflow from said cup toward the axis of the terminal, a flange extending up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt flts, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular member.

14. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingly downward, a flange extending up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt fits, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular member.

15. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, a flow directing ring open at its lower end to the atmosphere and having an inverted i'rusto-conical interior closely surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the cup in downwardly converging streams, a flange extending up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt fits, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular member.

16. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end 01' the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surround- 5 ing the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, means open to the atmosphere to direct the overflow from sai 1 cup toward the axis of the terminal, said chamber surrounding said terminaland the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral ports communicating with the cup, a flange extending -up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt fits, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular. member.

17. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubular member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fltted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, means open to the atmosphere to divide the overflow from said cup into a multiplicity of streams and to direct said streams convergingly downward, said chamber surrounding said terminal and the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral ports communicating with the cup, at flange extending up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt flts, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular member.

18. In a valve of the kind described, a supply pipe outflow terminal, an internally grooved tubu lar member slidable vertically on the upper end of the terminal, a cap fitted on the upper end of the tubular member and having a skirt surrounding the said upper end, a valve disk in said cap closing the upper end of the terminal upon the tubular member being moved downwardly, a flow checking chamber into which the tubular member projects to discharge therein, an overflow cup into which said chamber discharges, a flow directing ring open at its lower end to the atmosphere and having an inverted frusto-conical interior closely surrounding said cup and provided with a multiplicity of internal grooves directing the overflow from the cup in downwardly converging streams, said chamber surrounding said terminal and the cup surrounding the chamber, said chamber having lateral ports communicating with the 60 cup, a flange extending up from said chamber and into which the cap skirt fits, and packing means below the said skirt and between the flange and tubular member.

VICTOR E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT. 65 

